Hera, who walks in golden sandals, is the Queen of Heaven known for her jealousy, and because of it, she persecuted her husband's lovers and the children he had by them.

Hera is a daughter of Kronos and Rhea. She, like her siblings, was swallowed by her father as soon as she was born. Zeus, with the help of Metis later tricked Kronos into a swallowing a potion that forced him to disgorge his offspring. Her siblings include Zeus, Hestia, Demeter, Hades, and Poseidon.

Hera is usually represented as a majestic woman of mature age, with a beautiful forehead, large and widely opened eyes, and with a grave and stern expression that commands reverence. Her hair was adorned with a crown or a diadem, with a veil frequently hanging down the back of her head, to characterize her as the bride of Zeus.

The children of Hera and Zeus are Ares, the goddess of yound Hebe Eileithyia, the Cretan goddess of childbirth and Typhon, the serpent of Delphi. After Zeus birthed Athena from his head, Hera conceived her own child without intercourse. This son (Hephaestus) was born deformed, and Hera cast him out of heaven in disgust. Hephaestus, when grown, trapped his mother on a magical, binding throne as punishment of her earlier rejection.

Hera's personality was not as attractive, for she was frequently petty, cruel and vindictive, and in myths is most often shown administering some sort of revenge on one of Zeus’ lovers or his illegitimate children. Some of the more famous victims of the wrath of Hera included the greatest Greek hero, Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mortal women named Alcmena. Hera hounded and punished Hercules throughout his life. Soon after his birth, she sent two snakes to kill him, but the infant Hercules, who would become known for his tremendous strength, strangled the snakes instead. Another time, Hera drove Hercules temporarily insane, causing him to kill his own wife and children. Once, when she raised a storm against Hercules' ship, Zeus retaliated by hanging Hera from Mount Olympus by her wrists, with anvils attached to her feet.

The goddess was wrathful at losing to Aphrodite the prize of the Golden Apple addressed "to the Fairest" (Aphrodite bribe to Paris for the prize). She took her anger out on the city Troy, supporting the Greeks, in a war over the elopement of unfaithful Helene.

Cardea was the goddess of health, thresholds and door hinges and handles, also associated with the wind. Her name comes from cardo, meaning door-pivot. She protected children against vampires and witches, and was also the benefactress of craftsmen. Her cult was important in ancient Rome, and was a close companion of Janus, the God of the threshold. Masks, balls and figurines (oscilla) were hung from doorways or trees to encourage crop growth in reverence to her. The hawthorn tree was sacred to her. Ovid said of Cardea, in what is apparently a religious formula, "Her power is to open what is shut; to shut what is open. " She was originally the nymph Carna until Janus gave her power over door handles and hinges and status as the protectress of children.

Our Goddess today is probably the third one most people think of when they think of Goddesses (after Aphrodite and Isis). She has been given so many names that she brings my current count to 74!

ATHENA is the Greek Goddess of wisdom, justice, and war. She is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, another Goddess of wisdom. When he found out that Metis was pregnant, Zeus, fearing that she would bear a son who would be mightier than him, swallowed her. Metis fashioned a robe and helmet for the daughter she would soon have, and the hammering of the helmet caused Zeus great headaches. To ease his father's pain, Hephaistos split his skull open with his mighty ax, and Athena emerged, fully grown and wearing the robe and helmet her mother had made. Zeus was astounded by this beautiful daughter, and she immediately became his favorite.

Athena is one of the primary Goddesses of the Greek pantheon. She is the patron Goddess of the city of Athens, and is often represented by an owl. Through her wisdom, she developed many inventions to make life easier for her worshippers, including the bridle, chariot, and plow. Her warrior aspect is that of protrectress, guarding the well-being of her followers.

The original meaning of Athena's name is not known, but it may be related to the concept of moral intelligence, "ethei noesin", or divine intelligence, "thou noesis". Her name was also seen as ATHENE, and she has many epithets, as follows:

ATHENA AEANTIS (from the Aeantis tribe)

ATHENA AEGISPHORA (bearer of the Aegis)

ATHENA AETHYIA (sea-bird)

ATHENA AGELEIA (leader of the people)

ATHENA AGORAIA (of the market place)

ATHENA AGRIPHA (of agriculture)

ATHENA AJANTIS (derived from the town of Aias)

ATHENA AKHAIA (of the Achaeans)

ATHENA AKRAIA (of the hills)

ATHENA ALALKOMENEIS (protectress)

ATHENA ALEA (derived from a temple built by Aleus)

ATHENA ALEKTOR (rooster)

ATHENA ALKIDEMOS (defender of the people)

ATHENA ALKIMAKHE (defender in battle)

ATHENA ALKIS (the strong)

ATHENA AMBULIA (delayer of death)

ATHENA ANEMOTIS (subduer of winds)

ATHENA APATURIA (the deceitful)

ATHENA ARKHEGETIS (founder)

ATHENA AREIA (warlike)

ATHENA ARISTOBULA (of excellent counsel)

ATHENA ASIA (of Asia)

ATHENA ASSESIA (derived from a temple in the town of Assesus)

ATHENA ATRYTONE (the unwearying)

ATHENA AXIOPOINOS (she who gives fair punishments)

ATHENA BOARMIA (yoker of oxen)

ATHENA BOULAIA (of the Boule, or Senate)

ATHENA BUDEIA (of oxen)

ATHENA DAMASIPPOS (horse trainer)

ATHENA DORITHARSIS (she who uses the spear)

ATHENA EIRINOFOROS (she who brings peace)

ATHENA ERGANE (craft worker)

ATHENA ERIOPIS (with strong eyes)

ATHENA ERYMA (defender)

ATHENA ERYSIPTOLIS (protector of the city)

ATHENA GIGANTOLETEIRA (destroyer of giants)

ATHENA GLAUKOPIS (bright-eyed)

ATHENA GORGOLAPHAS (Gorgon-crested)

ATHENA HALEA (of the sea)

ATHENA HELLOTIA (derived from a sacrificed maiden)

ATHENA HEPHAISTIA (friend of Hephaistos)

ATHENA HIPPIA (tamer of horses)

ATHENA HIPPOLAITIS (derived from the town of Hipplas)

ATHENA HYGIEIA (health-giver)

ATHENA IASONIA (healer)

ATHENA ILIA (derived from the town of Ilios)

ATHENA ISMENIA (derived from the river Ismenos)

ATHENA ITONIA (educated by Itonus)

ATHENA KELEUTHEIA (of the road)

ATHENA KHALINITIS (of the bridle)

ATHENA KHALKIOKON (of the brass temple)

ATHENA KHRYSE (golden)

ATHENA KISSAIA (of the growing ivy)

ATHENA KLEIDOUKHOS (keeper of the keys)

ATHENA KOLOKASIA (of the edible tubers)

ATHENA KORIA (maiden)

ATHENA KORYPHAGENES (born of the head)

ATHENA KORYPHASIA (of the head)

ATHENA KRANAIA (rugged)

ATHENA KYDONIA (derived from a temple built by Clymenus of Kydonia)

ATHENA KYNTHIA (derived from a temple on Mount Cynthus)

ATHENA KYPARISSIA (of the cypress trees)

ATHENA LAOSSOOS (rallier of the people)

ATHENA LAPHRIA (derived from the hero Laphrisus)

ATHENA LARISAIA (derived from the river Larisos)

ATHENA LEITIS (distributor of the spoils of war)

ATHENA LEMNIA (derived from the isle of Lemnos)

ATHENA LINDIA (derived from the town of Lindos)

ATHENA LONGATOS (derived from the district of Longas)

ATHENA MAGARSIA (derived from the town of Magarsos)

ATHENA MEKHANITIS (doer of deeds)

ATHENA METER (mother)

ATHENA MUNYKHIA (from the town of Mounykhia)

ATHENA NARKAIA (derived from a sanctuary built by Narcaeus)

ATHENA NAUTA (ship builder)

ATHENA NEDOUSIA (derived from the river Nedon)

ATHENA NIKE (victorious)

ATHENA NIKEPHOROS (she who brings victory)

ATHENA OLERIA (derived from the town of Oleros)

ATHENA ONGA (derived from the town of Oncae)

ATHENA OPHTHALMITIS (seeing everything)

ATHENA OPTILETIS (sightful)

ATHENA OXYDERKES (with sharp eyes)

ATHENA PAEONIA (the healing)

ATHENA PALLANTIAS (maiden)

ATHENA PALLAS (maiden)

ATHENA PALLENIS (derived from the town of Pallene)

ATHENA PANAKHAIA (goddess of all the Achaeans)

ATHENA PANIA (abundant)

ATHENA PAREIA (from a statue made of Parian marble)

ATHENA PARTHENOS (virgin)

ATHENA PHRATRIA (of kinship)

ATHENA PHRONESIS (morally responsible)

ATHENA PHRYGIA (derived from the kingdom of Phrygia)

ATHENA POLEMEDOKOS (sustainer of wars)

ATHENA POLIAS (of the polis)

ATHENA POLIATIS (keeper of the city)

ATHENA POLMITIN (patriot)

ATHENA POLIOUKHOS (protecting the city)

ATHENA POLYBOULOS (of many plans)

ATHENA POLYMETIS (of many counsels)

ATHENA PROMAKHORMA (protectress of the bay)

ATHENA PROMAKHOS (she who fights at the forefront)

ATHENA PRONAIA (of the fore-temple)

ATHENA PRONOIA (with foresight)

ATHENA PROXIMA (of nearness)

ATHENA PYLAITIS (gate keeper)

ATHENA SAIS (derived from the town of Sais)

ATHENA SAITIS (derived from the town of Sais)

ATHENA SALPYNX (patron of the Salpynx)

ATHENA SKILLUNTIA (derived from the town of Skillos)

ATHENA SKIRAS (derived from the town of Skiras)

ATHENA SOTEIRA (savior)

ATHENA SOUNIA (derived from the town of Sounion)

ATHENA STHENIAS (of strength)

ATHENA STRATEGOS (strategist)

ATHENA TAUROPOLOS (slayer of bulls)

ATHENA TELKHINIA (derived from the town of Telkhinia)

ATHENA TITHRONE (impregnator)

ATHENA TRITOGENEIA (thrice born)

ATHENA TRITONIS (derived from the river Tritonis)

ATHENA XENIA (protector of strangers)

ATHENA ZOSTERIA (girder in armor)

Thanks to reader Michael pointing out that I was missing one of Athena's epithets, I sat down and found a whole bunch more! The updated post now has 123 epithets for her, instead of a puny 70. It was only my third post, after all--I hadn't quite got the hang of epithet-hunting yet.

"ATIRA "IS THE NATIVE AMERICAN GODDESS OF THE EARTH; SHE IS THE SACRED MOTHER OF EVERY LIVING CREATURE. THE PAWNEE PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA WORSHIPPED HER AS THE EARTH MOTHER. THE PAWNEES WERE A HUNTING PEOPLES WHO FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS MORE ON HUNTING THAN ON FARMING....FEELING THAT THE ACT OF AGRICULTURE AND PLOWING WAS AN INSULT TO HER.

IN FACT, WHEN ASKED TO ABANDON THEIR HUNTING AND AND SETTLE DOWN TO FARMING, THEIR PRIEST REPLIED...."YOU ASK ME TO PLOW THE GROUND? SHALL I TAKE A KNIFE AND TEAR MY MOTHER'S BOSOM? THEN WHEN I DIE, SHE WILL NOT TAKE ME TO HER BOSOM TO REST."

ATIRA IS THE SACRED MOTHER OF ALL LIFE, AND HER INFLUENCE IS MOST PREVALENT IN THE UNTAMED FIELDS AND FORESTS.